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The Stanford (CA) University protocol application form includes a section that examines potential conflict of interest through seven questions.

Conflict of interest questions in a nutshell

June 1, 2003

Conflict of interest questions in a nutshell

Stanford University’s IRB form

The Stanford (CA) University protocol application form includes a section that examines potential conflict of interest through seven questions.

If an investigator answers "yes" to any of the questions, then he or she must include a statement in the consent form to disclose the relationship and which institutions or companies are involved in the study through funding, cooperative research, or by providing study drugs or equipment.

Also, the investigator must file a conflict of interest disclosure with the appropriate school dean, and the university’s conflict of interest committee will review the information. Questions include:

  • Do any of the involved investigators or their immediate family (meaning spouse, dependent children, or domestic partner) have consulting arrangements, management responsibilities or equity holdings in the sponsoring company, vendor(s), provider(s) of goods, or subcontractor(s)?
  • Do any investigators or their immediate family have a financial relationship with the sponsoring company, including the receipt of honoraria, income, or stock/stock options as payments?
  • Is any investigator a member of an advisory board with the sponsoring company?
  • Do any investigators receive gift funds from the sponsoring company?
  • Do any investigators have research grants for other protocols from the sponsoring company?
  • Do any investigators or their immediate family have an ownership or royalty interest in any intellectual property utilized in this protocol?
  • Does Stanford University have an ownership or royalty interest in any intellectual property utilized in this protocol?